Card game and method with available multi-wagering

ABSTRACT

Card game and method using a standard deck, and is played by a dealer and at least one player. Each hand includes dealing face-down three cards to the dealer, dealing face-down two cards to each player, permitting each player to view only a first dealt card, and requiring each player to make a decision about selection of a playing card after viewing the first dealt card which could be to stay with the first card which would thus constitute the player&#39;s playing card or to pass the first card and view the second card which would then constitute the player&#39;s playing card. Thereafter, all of the dealer&#39;s cards are uncovered and one of the dealer&#39;s cards is selected as the dealer&#39;s playing card, the assigned card being the one having the best value to achieve an objective of the game and method. Each player&#39;s playing card is revealed and compared to the dealer&#39;s playing card. A winner of the hand is determined based on the comparison.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a game and method involvingcards and more specifically to a card game and method involving aplayer's selection of a single playing card to be used in a subsequentcomparison to a playing card of a designated dealer, with a payoutarising from the player's wager and the results of the comparison of theplayer's playing card to the dealer's playing card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous card games and methods involving selection of cardsto be used in subsequent comparisons of values of the cards held bydifferent players and/or a designated dealer with money being waged onwhether the player has higher value cards, or patterns of cardassociated with higher strength, than other players and/or the dealer.Some such card games are played at casino, as board games, and atInternet and interactive websites.

A drawback of some of these card games and methods when played at leastat casino tables is the complexity of the rules. A casino card game witha complex set of rules is not easy to learn and dissuades people fromapproaching the table to learn and play the game.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedcard game and method which can be played at casinos, and elsewhere,which is easy to learn and fun to play.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved game and method requiring a player's selection of a singleplaying card to be used in a subsequent comparison to a playing card ofa designated dealer, with a payout arising from the player's wager andthe results of the comparison of the player's playing card to thedealer's playing card.

In order to achieve these objects and others, a first embodiment of acard game and method in accordance with the invention uses a pluralityof cards having different values on a face thereof, such as a standard52 card deck, and is played by at least a first person designated adealer and at least one additional person designated a player. The gamecan be played as a single hand or round or as a series of hands orrounds, or continuously (which might be appropriate in a casinosetting). Each hand or round including dealing face-down three cards tothe dealer, dealing face-down two cards to each player, permitting eachplayer to view only the designated first one of the dealt cards, andrequiring each player to make a decision about selection of a playingcard after viewing the first dealt card which could be to stay with theviewed first card which would thus constitute the player's playing cardor alternatively, to pass the first card and view the second dealt cardwhich would then constitute the player's playing card. Thereafter, allof the dealer's dealt cards are uncovered and one of the dealer's dealtcards is assigned or selected as the dealer's playing card, the assignedcard being the one having the best value to achieve an objective of thegame and method. Thus, if the objective is to have the lowest card, asin a preferred embodiment, not only will the player's decision beingaffected by the value of the first card dealt to the player but also thedealer's playing card will be the card of the three dealt to the dealerwhich has the lowest value. Thereafter, each player's playing card isrevealed and compared to the dealer's playing card. A winner of the handor round is determined based on the comparison.

Thus, in the preferred embodiment wherein the objective is to have thelowest card and each player places a bet or wager on the hand or round,if the player's playing card is less than the dealer's playing card, theplayer will win an amount based on their wager, e.g., even money-returnof the wager and an equal amount, but if the player's playing card ishigher than the dealer's playing card, the player will lose the wager.The wager is placed prior to dealing of any of the cards.

In one embodiment of a multi-hand or round game, to expedite the handsor rounds, multiple decks are used. The decks are alternated betweenbeing used to play a hand or round and being shuffled, e.g., in anautomatic shuffling device.

Additional and optional wagering can be provided in the game and methodin accordance with the invention, specifically, based on the presence ofan Ace as the player's playing card. In this manner, placing thisadditional wager provides a payout to a player only when the player'splaying card is an Ace such that when the player's playing card is notan Ace, the player loses this additional wager (but may still win on thestandard wager whose winner is determined based on the comparison ofplaying cards). Moreover, if the dealer's playing card is also an Ace,then the payout of this additional wager can be increased.

Particular features of the card game and method include placing theplayer's viewed first card in a designated spot when the player stayswith the viewed first card or placing the player's second dealt card inthe same designated spot when the player elects to pass the first dealtcard such that the player's playing card (whether the first or seconddealt card) is in the designated spot. Advantageously, the second dealtcard of the player is removed when the player stays with the first dealtcard and the first dealt card of the player is removed when the playerpasses the first dealt card. These steps avoid controversy for thesubsequent comparison.

Comparison of each player's playing card to the dealer's playing cardcan be tailored to the game operator's desires. In one preferredembodiment, the comparison involves determining which playing card isthe lowest, with an Ace being the lowest value card, and the assigningof the dealer's playing card entails selecting the card of the dealer'sdealt cards having the lowest value. As such, a payout on a wager isprovided only when the player's playing card is less than the dealer'splaying card such that when the player's playing card is higher than thedealer's playing card, the player loses the wager. The player's wager isreturned when the player's playing card is equal to the dealer's playingcard. As discussed above, a payout can also be provided on an additionalwager based on the presence of an Ace as the player's playing card suchthat when the player's playing card is not an Ace, the player loses thisadditional wager. This additional payout is optionally increased in asituation where the dealer's playing card is also an Ace.

A table for playing the card game and method in any of its variationsdescribed above includes individual designated areas for the cards dealtto the dealer and each player, for a card which the player stays with,for a card which the player passes and for one or more wagers. Indiciarelating to the payouts on the wager(s) are also preferably provided onthe table in a manner known to those skilled in the art. For games withmultiple players and a single dealer, each player is provided with aplayer station, each station includes designated areas for the two cardsdealt to the player, for the card which the player stays with, for acard which a player passes and for the wager(s) specific to the player.

Other and further objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will be understood by reference to the following specificationin conjunction with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals identify like elements.

FIG. 1 is an overview of a player's station used when playing the cardgame and method in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an overview of a dealer's station used when playing the cardgame and method in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a overview of a table for use at, for example, a casino, inorder to play the card game and method in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a first embodiment of the card game and methodin accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbersrefer to the same or similar elements, one embodiment of a game inaccordance with the invention will be described. This embodiment is notlimiting and variations to the game are possible and envisioned and thuswithin the scope of the invention, Some variations are mentioned below.

This embodiment of the game in accordance with the invention is playedwith a single, standard deck of 52 playing cards, from Ace to King infour suits, and for the purposes of the game, the Ace will be consideredthe lowest card in the deck. The game will be described as a gamebetween a dealer and a player, it being understood that multiple playerscan play the game simultaneously against a single dealer.

The game includes a substrate 10 having markings, each of which isdiscussed below, which substrate 10 may be a table top as shown in FIG.3. With reference to FIG. 4, the initial step 40 in the game is for theplayer to place a bet or wager in a designated wager area 12, see thearea marked “Bet-1 to 1-Bet” in FIG. 1. The size of the wager the playeris able to place is limited by any rules of the game imposed by, forexample, the dealer, the casino in which the game is being played, andthe individual controlling the website at which the game is beingplayed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, each playeris provided with an opportunity to place an additional bet or wagerwhich relates to the holding of an Ace as the player's playing card. Tothis end, the substrate 10 includes an area 14 having the designation“Aces Pay Bonus Bet” or other language indicative of the additionalwager (see FIG. 1). This additional Ace-based wager is optional. Theodds for this optional bonus wager can be marked on the substrate 10.Also, the permitted range of the additional bonus wager, for example,$1-$100, can be marked on the substrate 10, with other or alternativelimitations based on for example, the casino or table minimum, alsobeing marked.

Once each player has placed their wager or wagers, the next step 42 inthe game is for the dealer to deal cards from the deck face down to theplayer(s) and dealer, in any order, and specifically two cards to theplayer and three cards to himself. The wager or wagers cannot be changedonce the cards are dealt. The substrate 10 can include designated areas16, 18 for each of the dealt cards for the player (see FIG. 1) and eachof the dealt cards to the dealer 20, 22, 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Area 16preferably has a designation “1^(st) Dealt card” or other similarlanguage indicating that it is the location into which the first carddealt to the player should be placed, to aid the player when playing thegame and area 18 preferably has a designation “2^(nd) Card ‘Hole Card’”or other similar language indicating that it is the location into whichthe second card dealt to the player should be placed and which also aidthe player when playing the game. Areas 20, 22, 24 can simply bedesignated “Card 1”, “Card 2” and “Card 3” as shown alongside the phrase“Dealer plays best of three cards”, or each of areas 20, 22, 24 canincluded a similar notation indicative of the presence of the threecards dealt to the dealer (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

Thereafter, the player looks at only a first one of their dealt cards,i.e., the one in area 16, (step 44) and in step 46, makes a decision tostay or pass. The viewed card is maintained face down. The objective ofa preferred embodiment of the game is to have the lowest value card andthis obviously affects a player's decision to stay or pass. Thus, aplayer with a low value card such a deuce will likely stay while aplayer with a high value card such as a Queen will likely pass. If aplayer stays (step 48), then the first card is moved from designatedarea 16 to a designated stay area 26 (the area 26 possibly having adesignation “Stay: Place 1^(st) Dealt Card” to aid the player in playingof the game). If the player views an Ace as their first dealt card, theyshould, if not must, move it to the stay area 26 and keep it face down.

If the player passes (step 50), then the first card is moved fromdesignated area 16 to a designated pass area 28 (the area 28 possiblyhaving a designation “Pass: Place 1^(st) Dealt Card” to aid the playerin playing of the game).

As a result of the decision to stay or pass based on reviewing the firstdealt card, the player has designated a playing card which is present ineither the area 26 (if the player decided to stay after viewing thefirst dealt card) or in area 28 (if the player decided to pass afterviewing the first dealt card). At this time, the dealer can take fromthe player the card not being used to play the hand, i.e., either thesecond dealt card if the player decides to stay with the first card andhas moved it to the stay area 26 or the first dealt card if the playerdecides to pass on it and has moved it to the pass area 28. In thelatter case, the dealer also places the second dealt card into thedesignated stay area 26. The player can now look at the second dealtcard, the “hole card”, which was moved from the area 18 to thedesignated stay area 26.

The next step 52 in the game is for the dealer to determine her playingcard to be compared against the player's playing card. To this end, thedealer uncovers all three of her cards, with the lowest being thedealer's playing card (for the preferred embodiment wherein theobjective is to have the lowest value card). At this juncture, it isnoted that although in the preferred embodiment of the invention, theobjective of the game is to have the lowest value playing card, with anAce being the lowest, other variations are envisioned and suchvariations may depend, for example, on the composition of the deck ofcards being used to play the game.

The player's playing card is then uncovered (step 54) and compared tothe dealer's playing card (step 56). The comparison involves adetermination as to whether the dealer or player has the lowest card. Ifthe dealer's playing card is lower than the player's playing card, thenthe dealer wins, and the player loses their obligatory wager, i.e., thewager in designated area 12. If the player's playing card is lower thanthe dealer's playing card, then the player wins the wager in area 12. Ifthe dealer's playing card and the player's playing card are the same,then the player pushes on the wager, i.e., receives the wager back.

The wager may be twice the amount of money placed into the betting area12, i.e. the original wager and the same sum as winnings, or any otherpayout which may be designated on the substrate 10.

However, as noted above, an additional, optional wager is envisioned,and relates to the presence of an Ace as the player's playing card, withan optional enhancement if the dealer's playing card is also an Ace. Tothis end, the Ace-based wager is then considered in step 58. If theplayer's playing card is an Ace and the player placed a bet or wager inthe bonus bet area 14, then the player receives a payout on this bonusbet which may be an enlarged multiple of the original wager, e.g., 10times the original wager. An indication to this effect can be placed onthe substrate 10, i.e., it contains the phrase “any Ace pays 10 to 1” orsimilar language to this effect. This payout is made regardless ofwhether there is a payout on the obligatory wager. Moreover, if thedealer's playing card is also an Ace, then a “Super Bonus” is providedwhich may be a larger multiple of the wager in the area 14, e.g., 40times the original wager. An indication to this effect can be placed onthe substrate 10, i.e., it contains the phrase “if player and dealerpull an ace . . . super bonus . . . 40 to 1” or similar language to thiseffect

This optional Ace-based wager is independent of the standard orobligatory wager in area 12 so that a player can receive a payout oneach wager, the amount of the wager in area 12 if the player's playingcard is less than the dealer's playing card and a multiple of the amountin wager area 14 if the player's playing card is an Ace. Alternatively,the player can receive a payout on the Ace-based wager but not on theobligatory wager, i.e., when both the player and dealer's playing cardsare Aces (although the player pushes on the obligatory wager and thusdoes not lose from this bet).

In step 60, the cards are then gathered together, the deck is shuffledand another hand or round of the game can be started.

When playing multiple and sequential hands or rounds of a single game(note though that each hand or round could constitute a game in and ofitself), it is possible to use two or more decks wherein a first deck isused to play one round of the game and the second deck is placed in anautomatic shuffler. Once the first round is concluded, the second deckis removed from the automatic shuffler and the first deck is placed intothe automatic shuffler. The second round is played with the second deck.Use of two decks, or even more decks, quickens the pace of the game andin comparison to a multi-round game in which only a single deck is used,avoids any downtime between rounds which would be required to shufflethe deck.

In one embodiment of the game, multiple players can play against asingle dealer, or a player can receive multiple sets of two cardssimultaneously in a single hand or round. Each player would be providedwith two dealt cards and the players would simultaneously make adecision about staying or passing after viewing their respective, firstdealt card. Since the players do not play against each other but ratherplay individually against the dealer, they may, if so desired, showtheir cards to other players. Ideally though, each player keeps theirown playing cards to themselves and also above the substrate 10. Thedealer would treat each player separately, i.e., consider each player'swager or wager independent of the wager(s) of the other player(s). themaximum number of players is preferably 7, excluding the dealer.

Although in accordance with the invention, a full deck of standard cardsis used, it is possible to use other sets of cards, whether a portion ofa single deck, multiple decks, portions of multiple decks, etc.

Further, the game is described above involving two cards dealt to eachplayer and three cards dealt to a dealer. In variations of the game, adifferent number of cards can be dealt to each player (other than twocards) and each dealer (other than three cards). For example, the dealercould be dealt only two cards. In one such embodiment where the dealeris dealt only two cards, the dealer can be required to turn over onlyone card and if the card is less than or equal to a value, e.g., six,the dealer must keep this card which will thus be the dealer's playingcard, and the second dealt card will be removed. If the turned over cardis higher than a six, then the dealer can discard the card and thesecond dealt card will be the dealer's playing card.

The game described above involves the pursuit of a lowest card with theobjective being to have a playing card having a lower value than thedealer's playing card, with an Ace being the lowest. Variations arepossible, for example, wherein the objective is to have the highestplaying card and the necessary modifications to the game with such anobjective would be readily evident to one skilled in the art.

The game can be played in various forms. It can be played as a tablegame at a casino or other gambling establishment. It can be configuredand marketed as a board game to be played between two or more players,one of which will be designated the dealer. It can also be played as aninteractive, possibly web-based, game wherein the dealer and player(s)can be situated in different locations and a computer coordinates theplay of the game and wagering, e.g., deals the cards to the player(s),enables the manipulation and movement of the cards by the player andacts as the dealer if so desired. The game can also be configured as ahandheld game or as a cartridge for a hand-held game, or as anelectronic game in any suitable form.

The actions based on the player and dealer having the same card can bechanged so that the player loses if his or her card does not have alower value than that of the dealer.

Finally, wagering on each player's playing card does not have to belimited to wagers placed by the player but could also be placed by otherparties.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention inits broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims isto cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

1. A card game and method using a plurality of cards having differentvalues on a face thereof and for at least a first person designated adealer and at least one additional person designated a player, the cardgame and method including at least one hand or round and each hand orround comprising: dealing face-down at least two cards to the dealer;dealing face-down at least two cards to each player; permitting eachplayer to view only a first one of the dealt cards; permitting eachplayer to stay with the viewed first card which would constitute theplayer's playing card or alternatively, pass the first card and view thesecond dealt card which would then constitute the player's playing card;uncovering all of the dealer's dealt card; assigning one of the dealer'sdealt cards as the dealer's playing card, the assigned card being theone having the best value to achieve an objective of the game andmethod; revealing each player's playing card; and comparing eachplayer's playing card to the dealer's playing card and determining awinner of the game based on the comparison.
 2. The card game and methodof claim 1, further comprising using a single deck of standard playingcards as the plurality of cards.
 3. The card game and method of claim 1,further comprising: using a plurality of decks of standard playingcards; and alternating use of the decks for each sequential hand orround.
 4. The card game and method of claim 1, further comprisingallowing each player to place a wager on the comparison of the player'splaying card to the dealer's playing card prior to viewing the dealer'splaying card.
 5. The card game and method of claim 1, further comprisingallowing each player to place a wager on the comparison of the player'splaying card to the dealer's playing card prior to viewing the player'sfirst dealt card.
 6. The card game and method of claim 1, furthercomprising: allowing each player to place a wager on the presence of anAce as the player's playing card; and providing a payout on this wageronly when the player's playing card is an Ace such that when theplayer's playing card is not an Ace, the player loses this wager.
 7. Thecard game and method of claim 6, further comprising varying the payoutof the wager based on the presence of an Ace as the player's playingcard dependent on whether the dealer's playing card is also an Ace. 8.The card game and method of claim 7, wherein the step of varying thepayout of the wager comprises increasing the payout.
 9. The card gameand method of claim 1, further comprising placing the viewed first cardin a designated spot when each player stays with the viewed first cardor placing the second dealt card in the same designated spot when theplayer elects to pass the first dealt card such that the player'splaying card is in the designated spot.
 10. The card game and method ofclaim 9, further comprising removing the second dealt card of eachplayer when the player stays with the first dealt card and removing thefirst dealt card of each player when the player passes the first dealtcard.
 11. The card game and method of claim 1, wherein the step ofdealing at least two cards to the dealer comprises dealing only threecards to the dealer.
 12. The card game and method of claim 1, whereinthe step of dealing at least two cards to the player comprises dealingonly two cards to the player.
 13. The card game and method of claim 1,wherein the comparison of each player's playing card to the dealer'splaying card comprises determining which playing card is the lowest,with an Ace being the lowest value card, and the assigning of thedealer's playing card entails selecting the card of the dealer's dealtcards having the lowest value.
 14. The card game and method of claim 13,further comprising: allowing each player to place a wager on thecomparison of the player's playing card to the dealer's playing cardprior to dealing any cards; and providing a payout on each wager onlywhen the player's playing card is less than the dealer's playing cardsuch that when the player's playing card is higher than the dealer'splaying card, the player loses the wager.
 15. The card game and methodof claim 14, further comprising returning the player's wager when theplayer's playing card is equal to the dealer's playing card.
 16. Thecard game and method of claim 13, further comprising: allowing eachplayer to place an additional wager on the presence of an Ace as theplayer's playing card; and providing a payout on this additional wageronly when the player's playing card is an Ace such that when theplayer's playing card is not an Ace, the player loses this wager. 17.The card game and method of claim 16, further comprising increasing thepayout of the additional wager when the dealer's playing card is also anAce.
 18. A table for playing the card game and method of claim 1, thetable including individual designated areas for the cards dealt to thedealer and each player, for a card which the player stays with, for acard which the player passes and for at least one wager.
 19. The tableof claim 18, further comprising indicia relating to payouts on the atleast one wager.
 20. The table of claim 18, wherein a player's stationis defined as including designated areas for the at least two cardsdealt to the player, for the card which the player stays with, for acard which a player passes and for at least one wager specific to theplayer, the table including one station for each player.